Formula One championship leader Kimi Antonelli brutally labelled Carlos Sainz an “idiot” during practice at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Italian Antonelli, 19, has qualified on pole for this weekend’s race as he seeks a sixth win from 10 races.
But prior to his sensational performance on Saturday, the teenager was embroiled in a bitter dispute with Williams driver Sainz, 31.
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It came during the second practice session when Antonelli felt he was impeded by Sainz while attempting to overtake the Spaniard.
After passing the Williams, which was not on a flying lap, Antonelli got onto his race radio and said: “Sainz, what an idiot.”
While Sainz told his team: “I don’t know what Antonelli was doing with me. He threw the car into me. I don’t know why.”
Following the session, Sainz doubled down by insisting he did not do anything wrong.
The former Ferrari driver explained: “I think he felt like I impeded him, I don’t feel like I did.
“I guess nowadays with the SM [straight mode], if you don’t get out of the way exactly, you cannot turn because you have no downforce with the wings open.
“Maybe he felt like I could have got out of the way in a better way. But I don’t think he should call me an idiot either, on the radio, I think that’s forbidden, to swear and insult a rival – so I think he should calm down a bit.”
Antonelli leads the Drivers’ Championship by 25 points from Mercedes teammate George Russell ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.
The youngster is looking to bounce back after a DNF in Silverstone last time out.
Joining him on the front row in Belgium is four-time world champion Max Verstappen after the Dutchman benefited from a tow by fellow Red Bull Isack Hadjar.
Defending champion Lando Norris qualified third ahead of Russell, with Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton starting from the third row.